For its annual shareholders meeting, Solera Holdings wanted to share its vision of the future of automotive insurance. They asked me to find a way to show off their ideas while telling a story that was engaging and emotional. After speaking to a number of executives I learned that the CEO was a big fan of blues music and often played it at company retreats. Music became the cornerstone of this 10 minute short film I wrote and directed.
We had a budget of $60,000 to shoot it, but we faced substantial challenges. Because the company wanted the story set in England, we needed to find actors who could do a convincing accent and play instruments. We also had to create a hailstorm in Malibu, and fake a self-driving car. And of course all the futuristic graphics on the phones needed to be designed and added in post-production.
Kaplan Test Prep wanted a series of short videos for online marketing that would share test taking tips in a humorous and visually striking way. I spoke with the company’s top GMAT teachers, who shared that GMAT students in particular have a competitive streak and tend to follow sports. That inspired me to write The K-Zone, which shows what would happen if ESPN covered standardized testing.
I co-wrote two young adult novels for Sparknotes. Gilded Delirium is for AP US History students, and it follows time travelers lost in 1890s Chicago. The Unofficial College Guide to Yale… With Murder is a fun way to get the inside scoop on Yale University as one student tries to discover a legendary treasure hidden somewhere on campus.
One of Kaplan’s major university partners had a group of students preparing for the Praxis exam, which licenses new teachers. In addition to prep materials, the university wanted something that would keep the students focused and motivated. I worked with Praxis teachers to design weekly emails that combine test taking tips, videos, and calls to action to inspire people to log on and study more.